Padraig Harrington of Ireland plays a bunker shot on the practice ground on Thursday after playing the first round of The Barclays on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York.

Photo: AFP

Irishman Padraig Harrington seized the first-round lead with a seven-under 64 on Thursday at The Barclays, the first tournament of the PGA Tour playoffs.

Harrington has a one-stroke lead over Nick Watney and Brian Harman, who both fired six-under 65s on the Bethpage course.

Harrington is hoping a strong showing at the event will convince European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal to make him one of his two captain’s picks.

Sergio Garcia, of Spain, shot a 66 and shares fourth place with Pat Perez, England’s Gary Christian and Jimmy Walker. Garcia won last week at the Wyndham Championship.

American Tiger Woods is part of a group tied for 14th after carding a three-under 68. Defending champion Dustin Johnson is one stroke ahead of FedEx Cup points leader Woods in eighth.

While The Barclays is the first of four PGA Tour playoff events, a more immediate concern for Harrington is the Ryder Cup. He cannot make the European team on points so he needs to show Olazabal that he is worthy to compete in his seventh straight Ryder Cup.

“The only answer I can give at this stage is I’m pleading the Fifth Amendment on that one,” Harrington said. “I honestly don’t know what to say. I don’t want to go in there and try too desperately to beg for a pick, or I don’t want to go in there and give excuses for anything. I’ll just leave it be what it is. I’m just going to play golf.”

Woods’ playing partner Rory McIlroy shot a 69. Woods scrambled to save some early pars and McIlroy got off to a good start, finishing with five birdies and three bogeys.

Woods and McIlroy will be playing together during the opening two rounds because the event groups players based on their FedEx Cup standings — Woods is in first place while McIlroy is currently third.

Phil Mickelson, Luke Donald, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh are among those tied for 14th with Woods.

The event also marks the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs. The top 100 in the standings advance to the second round at the Deutsche Bank Championship and then the top 70 move on to the BMW Championship.

The top 30 reach the FedEx Cup final at the Tour Championship, with the winner pocketing US$10 million.

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